The main reason why flood cleanup is an absolute necessity is because of the diseases that will infect both humans and animals if left uncleaned. There are a lot of hindrances in the aftermath of floods, including mold growth which could cause debilitating diseases in the long run. Flood waters are a cesspool of bacteria, fungi, viruses, microorganisms and toxic substances that are capable of causing extreme damage to the body. If you did not protect yourself while wading through the waist-deep waters, here are the health problems that you should prepare for:

Diarrhea

Improper and unsanitary flood cleanup will certainly result into diarrhea or diarrhea related complications. It can be caused by a number of factors, which include the following: bacterial and parasitic infection, food that could upset the digestive system and medications. In floods, diarrhea can be transmitted because of the following scenarios:

Being fully submerged in floodwater may have rendered you to accidentally consume some of it. This is common especially in strong currents and if the water levels have reached a gargantuan scale. Drinking floodwater will open up the possibility of bacteria and parasites infecting your digestive organs.

Consuming contaminated food and water. You may have stockpiled your food cupboard with canned food, biscuits wrapped in air tight plastic containers and bottled water, but if they got wet thanks to the flood, discard them immediately, just to be safe.

Unsanitary conditions. Once you come into contact with flood water, your skin will be infested with bacteria. Not cleaning yourself will certainly allow bacteria to run rampant on your skin, and may contaminate the food you are about to eat.

Leptospirosis

Unsafe flood cleanup (without protective equipment) will certainly open up the possibility of leptospirosis. It is mainly caused by the bacterium Leptospira, which infects rats and mice and can be found on their urine. It can affect both humans and animals, like dogs and cats. The symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases, these include fever, headaches, muscle aches, reddish eyes and rashes. It can be contacted through skin exposure to the urine, which may be present in the floodwater or through contaminated soil and food. This disease is the main reason why you should avoid wading in flood waters if you have an open wound or exposed skin. This disease is capable of:

Kidney and Liver damage and if left untreated organ failure which could result to fatal consequences.

Meningitis. Due to the invasive nature of the bacteria, it is capable of causing meningitis, the inflammation of the membrane between the spinal cord and the brain.

Cholera

This disease is another reason why flood cleanup is necessary. It can cause diarrhea, which in turn leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in the body. Hospitalization is needed in this scenario, given that the severe version of this disease can lead to death. Antibacterial drugs may become a necessity once infected, given its severity. It can be transmitted by eating and drinking food and water contaminated by human feces – a common scenario during floods.